I found this handsome chrome-finish floor lamp that someone had abandoned in the garage in my building. It was covered in surface rust, but I saw a potentially cool (and free) lamp for the apartment and decided to bring it upstairs to see if I could restore it. After I made sure it actually worked and fixed the wobbly base, I did a simple cleaning trick I learned when I washed cars in high school back in the 1980s. I am VERY pleased with the result…

Sometimes simply fixing, cleaning and restoring old and used floor lamps can be better (and more cost-efficient) than going out to buy new ones. However, some people might not like the idea of having to go through this process, and it could be even worse if it doesn’t end up working, and instead decide to have a look at a wide range of affordable floor lamps that can be used as an alternative lighting source. Whether you decide to fix or buy a new lamp for your home, make sure that it has been the right decision for you and your needs. Anyway, this is the video of me restoring a chrome lamp so start watching!

5 Comments

  1. George

    That is a cracking find buddy and a lovely piece of retroclectic furniture, great tips on the cleaning I’m gonna give it a go with some chrome bits I have, cheers

    Paul

  2. That is such a New York thing to do. When I first came to the city, my friends and I furnished our apartments with items left on the street. We referred to this style of decor as “Early Salvation Army.” I still have a large cedar chest that I found on the street. It was painted an especially ugly shade of brown. It took me the longest to remove all the paint and to apply a polyurethane finish, but it has served me for more than thirty years.

    Enjoying your blog,

    Taylor Hallman

  3. Joseph Crangle

    Isn’t it great to have the ability to spot diamonds in the rough? And isn’t amazing how few people can recognize a piece of furniture, an item of clothing or even a house with great potential that just needs some love and attention?

  4. George you scratch chrome with steel wool or SOS pads. Should use brass wool instead